A suspected bomb explosion near a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, has left one person dead, according to city officials.
Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills described the incident, which occurred on Friday, as “an intentional act of violence.” The blast caused significant damage to several buildings in the area, with some structures severely affected. “There has been one fatality, the person’s identity is not yet known,” Mills confirmed in a statement.
Mayor Ron deHarte told Reuters that the explosion appeared to have originated from a bomb either inside or near a vehicle parked outside the reproductive health facility.
Palm Springs Fire Chief Paul Alvarado noted that no suspect has been identified so far.
The explosion occurred at about 11 a.m. local time on Saturday near North Indian Canyon Drive and East Tachevah Drive. Authorities quickly cordoned off the area, urging residents to stay away as emergency services and investigators secured the scene.
Federal agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have joined the investigation, which is still in its early stages.
The blast damaged the American Reproductive Centers facility, a fertility clinic operated by Dr Maher Abdallah. Although the clinic’s offices were affected, the IVF lab and stored embryos remained intact. “Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients,” Dr Abdallah said, adding that all his staff were safe.
A witness, 37-year-old Nima Tabrizi from Santa Monica, said he was inside a cannabis dispensary nearby when the explosion occurred. “The building just shook,” he said. “We went outside and there was a massive cloud of smoke. It felt like a bomb went off… We went up to the scene and saw human remains.”
Palm Springs, known for its upscale lifestyle and rich celebrity heritage, is located about 100 miles (161 kilometres) east of Los Angeles.
